and if they go the game they drink before it, pay for the match ticket, then spend £30 in the ground drinking overpriced tosh... so they have probably saved themselves a minumum of £30.. probably more like £40

Yes, of course I have, and I've commented several times about their soft underbelly which is still apparent despite a change in coach, modest success and different players. What I'm concerned about, and what you and anyone else who genuinely loves the game should be concerned about, is when you see Huddersfield players laughing on screen when they are in the midst of a 40-odd point hammering.

I don't care if Huddersfield ship 50 points every week. I don't care if they qualify for the play-offs for the next 100 years and fail to register another win. What I care about is a system that rewards failure, absolves responsibility and then wrings it's hands wondering where the lifeblood of the game is on match day.

You're right about the system being all wrong and rewarding failure - I've always been massively opposed to "second chances" in the play offs, but to be fair that is changing next season. I think the merging of two divisions into a three way split after 23 games is a bit too gimmicky, but it will at least increase competitiveness, as teams battle to make it to a straightforward top four semi final stage.

The top eight play off format of the last few years has been truly awful.

I drive to every game living outside the Borough, so couldn't comment on the quality of beer on offer, or indeed the cost, but, a £30 spend during a game suggests that someone isn't paying attention during the match. At say £4 a pint then close to a gallon in 90 minutes of 'captivity' at the ground also suggest a bit of a problem, particularly as you have them having a couple of pre match looseners....attendances won't be the only things falling

ticket = £20
Beers in ground - 5 at £4 each = £20
Food - £5

Thats roughly £45 for me while the game is on

if i went to the pub i would drink 5 pints MAX at, say £2.50 each... thats £12.50

that makes a saving of £32.50.. thats how it pans out for me anyway

Goodness me. Five pints during the match? How much did you drink at the match during the Anderson/Plange era? Although I grant you beer should have been subsidised in those days in view of what was occurring on the pitch.

Agree with this, I like a drink but tend to do mine before and/or after, then maybe one in each half at the game. Anyone spending £30 on the sauce in the ground (unless you're getting a round in) isn't likely to see or remember much of the game. I only ever did this once

Last night ,during one of the pub's infamous lock ins ,a game came on sky ,Bradford v Saints at Old Trafford . Fast ,free flowing rugby ,no more than two in the tackle & frequently only one & what a joy it was to watch these highlights.

Contrast that to the slow ,laborious dross that followed in the form of a Wigan & Huddersfield wrestling match.I was glad when mine host wanted to watch the Scottish referendum.

Hey each to their own and you don't have to justify anything of course, but, 5 beers during a game and food is a good effort, particularly as you have to make more of an effort to take on refreshments at a game in comparison to being at a pub with beer 'on tap' and you wouldn't be tempted with a morsel to accompany your liquid supper?

BTW I was commenting on your previous calculations, granted for the non attendee, which stated they had bought their ticket then spent £30 on over priced tosh.....

It's all about choice and if my Thursday night £30 spend options were, £20 match ticket two looseners before and a couple of après beers to help digest the night's proceedings, or standing in a pub watching people depart for the game and being worse for wear when they returned then I know where my money is going and it should be to support the club IMO as then we can demand the best

Optimistic note............. Saturday afternoon (chance of drinks before and after the game), local debry, first time in play-offs for Widnes. Could we see our highest play-off attendance in some years and possibly a top 5 , 2014 attendance.

Where are you drinking? 2008?

Beer before the game, beer during the game, beer after the game, our local rivals as the opposition = Stay well clear of town on Saturday

I've only been to a couple of matches this year for a couple of reasons.
Main one - we've been on TV 13 times and as I don't live locally that's quite a saving on petrol and tickets. If I was local I would have gone though.
But also I do understand about 'meaningless' games. If there was only a 'top 4' in the play offs then arguably the pressure would have been on, but from the start of the year - apart from the first few weeks when a lot on here were 'wobbling' - it was fairly clear we'd make the eight.
Now we're in the play offs I'll try to go to all of the matches becasue it's sudden death and you don't get the same atmosphere watching at home.

Come on the Wire !

Costello's Stockton Heath £2.50 pint of Bollingtons cask last night.

Grappenhall Legion £2.50 per pint Carling (mild & bitter are cheaper)

In my younger days I travelled home and away to every game for the best part of 10 years.
I hardly attend a live game these days - and working in the media admission prices are not an issue.
What keeps me away from live games?
1. I can watch more than half of Warrington's games live on TV and highlights from all games. (Warrington's last eight games have all been live on TV!!)
2. The main competition is almost meaningless - finishing top of any league should be the ultimate goal.
3. So much live sport on TV there is always something else to watch
4. Traditional Sunday afternoon games few and far between
5. Too many changes in the game RE relegation and promotion.
6. Summer rugby didn't help as once my kids lost interest they wanted to do something else as a family.

A lot of the people I used to attend with regularly have stopped going saying they have fallen out of love with the game and if you take a family of four to a game now with youngsters over 18 I don't think you will get much change out of £100 for a couple of hours entertainment.

But to me the main reason is the amount of TV coverage.

Even Leeds could only attract just over 7,000 yesterday reflecting the general poor attendances for play-off matches..£28.50 is a fair old wedge of cash in these straitened times. Wouldn't it make for a better spectacle if these games were to be played before a packed stadium if admissions were greatly reduced to a more realistic price ?

The good thing about the play off format is next season the first game that won't be accessible with a season ticket is the semi final, which is obviously a massive game and one which is usually well attended at all clubs.

The current format is far too drawn out and the week one games for the top four teams are training exercises which hardly inspire punters.

Like most other sports in the country RL has been sacrificed on Murdoch's altar of greed....sky's intention is for minimal amounts of spectators at live sports while it beams pictures for you to watch from your armchair.

There is a reason Carling is only £2.50 a pint and that is because it tastes like cat's p**s.

Incidentally, since football - and Anfield in particular - was dragged into this thread earlier on, you should be thankful that you watch a game which is comparatively under-supported. To give you an example, Liverpool are playing Middlesbrough at home on Tuesday night in the League Cup and tickets start at £25. An unattractive fixture and an overpriced ticket. Anfield will be full though, and anyone who doesn't buy a ticket and have it credited to their season ticket or membership card will almost certainly not be eligible for a Wembley ticket should Liverpool end up in the final of that competition next February. One missed game in an earlier round = no Wembley.

Now if that was a similar story in RL and missing yesterday would have meant you wouldn't get a Grand Final ticket if we make it there, then yesterday's attendance would undoubtedly have been higher, but it would make watching Wires a lot more difficult in general. Knowing that you'll be able to go to absolutely any match you want to regardless of importance, opposition, and whether you have been to any others in your life or not is an absolute luxury that RL fans take for granted. The grass is not greener for the ordinary supporter in other sports.

£1.60 for a pint in the Connie Club!

Pardon ?

The question of money in players pockets makes the difference ;get a contract and hey presto same pay cheque every week.



Play as of old with winning and losing pay and watch the smirking players attitude change

I'll have to take your word for that, as I've never tasted cat p*ss.